The One Chicago universe used to thrive on crossovers, benefiting from being on the same network, filming in the same city, and releasing episodes on the same day, but it has been a while since NBC has produced a crossover, and that must change. Chicago Fire kicked off the One Chicago franchise in October 2012, and its success convinced NBC to expand its universe by ordering a spinoff, Chicago PD. Then, Chicago Med and the short-lived Chicago Justice came, and although Chicago Justice is gone, the other shows are alive and thriving.
Over the course of the One Chicago universe, there have been three crossovers including the three main series (Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, and Chicago Med). Of course, NBC has released numerous other smaller crossovers that only include two shows, with Law & Order: SVU even getting into the mix occasionally. However, the last time the three primary TV shows connected was in October 2019. The crossover was called "Infection" and focused on a bioterrorism attack in Chicago, and, unfortunately, the network hasn't planned another crossover since then.
One Chicago's Cast Changes Makes A 2024 Crossover Necessary
Each One Chicago TV Show Featured At Least 1 Significant Exit During Their Previous Seasons
One Chicago TV Show | Season(s) | Episodes | Creators | Backdoor Pilot Premiere Date | Release Date | Finale Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago Fire | 13 | 252 | Michael Brandt and Derek Haas | N/A | October 10, 2012 | TBA |
Chicago PD | 12 | 221 | Dick Wolf and Matt Olmstead | May 15, 2013 | January 8, 2014 | TBA |
Chicago Med | 10 | 176 | Dick Wolf and Matt Olmstead | April 7, 2015 | November 17, 2015 | TBA |
Chicago Justice | 1 | 13 | Dick Wolf | May 11, 2016 | March 1, 2017 | May 14, 2017 |
It has been five years since Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, and Chicago Med teamed up, and consequently, each show's cast looks different. Matt Casey, Sylvie Brett, and Chief Boden have left Chicago Fire, while new characters like Violet Mikami, Sam Carver, Lyla Novak, and Dom Pascal have joined or will join. As for Chicago PD, Jay Halstead and Hailey Upton exited, and Dante Torres and Kiana Cook are now a part of the crew. Finally, Will Halstead, April Sexton, Natalie Manning, Ethan Choi, and Crockett Marcel left Chicago Med, while Dean Archer, Hannah Asher, and Mitch Ripley now work at Med.
Given that each cast of the One Chicago TV shows features several new players, it's time they got reacquainted via a crossover. Viewers haven't seen some of the new Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, and Chicago Med characters interact with one another, and, of course, a crossover would be the perfect time to do so. However, even though One Chicago desperately needs a crossover in 2024, it likely won't happen.
NBC's Reason For The Lack Of One Chicago Crossovers Can Easily Be Addressed
Safety Was NBC's Previous Concern
The One Chicago franchise hasn't had a crossover in five years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Concern for the cast and crew's safety was the main reason, which made sense in the early 2020s and should be the top priority. But now that some time has passed, many have gotten accustomed to a "new normal," so, it shouldn't be difficult for NBC to concoct a crossover. Unfortunately, a One Chicago crossover event doesn't seem to be in the cards for the 2024–2025 season as COVID protocols are still in place.
